Lifting mechanism



".1927. May 10 E. M-COLE LIFTING 'uE'c HAms'ni I Filed March 1926 4 She et-Sheet' 2 1 TN R: G h :m v 14 i xi L z. g? as r. i H

May 10, 1927. 1,627,956.

E. M. COLE LIFTING MECHANISM Filed March 5. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 10, 1927- E. M COLE IJIFTING MECHANISM FiledMavroh 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 use in lifting the cope and Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES EUGENE M. COLE, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

LIFTING MECHANISM.

Application filed March 5, 1926. Serial No. v92,587.

This invention relates to lifting mechanism, and more particularly to manually operated mechanism of the type especially adapted for lifting the parts of molding or casting apparatus,

The general object of the invention is to provide lifting apparatus so constructed that it will ertically lift or hoist an object. without giving to it the slightest an ular displacen'ient, and will maintain it strictly parallel with itself. To this end, 1 provide lifting mechanism comp .ing :rseries of vertically movable elements, which are first i'uoved into engagement with the object and automatically adjusted so as to conform to the contour of the lower surface of such object before the lifting operation begins. Then, as the elements travel upwardly, the object is hoisted. vertically without vany tendency to be isplaced angularly.

The invention is especially applicable for pattern plate from the drag of an ordinary molding flask, and may be considered specifically as an improvement upon the construction cowred by myprior Patent, No. 1,507,954, (lllfGtl September 9. 192st.

In connection with my prior apparatus, ithas been found. in practice, that the pattern plate or the lifting brackets of the cope do not always lie in a true. l'iorizontal plane, due to warping or other causes. Therefore, when these parts are engaged by the lifting mechanism, the initial effect is to shift them into a horizontal plane, thus causing a slight angular displacement of the cope and pattern plate, relative to the drag. This angular displacement often results in the edges of the sand impression being broken or deformed, thus producing imperfect castings.

in my present invention, means are provided for lifting the cope and pattern plate absolutely parallel to themselves and to each other, and for insuring that no angular displacement vvhatever is given to these elements. even though they should be warped or otherwise unsymnietrical. In this way, I am enabled to produce perfect sand impressions and perfect castings, notwithstanding lDzlGCllllKiBFl and imperfections in the structure of the flask itself.

in order that the invention may be read- ,sily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which Figures 1,, 2 and 3 are similar side elevations of my improved apparatus complete, the parts being shown as in progressively different positions in the three figures;

Figure l is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 5 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of part of the lifting mechanism, parts being broken. away and parts being in section;

Figure 6 is a view of the rear side of one of the mechanisms shown in Figure 5 and also illustrating the trip mechanism, this view being substantially a section on the line 6-8 of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 5, parts being broken away and other parts being indicated in dotted lines for the sake of clearness ,l igure S horizontal section on the line 88 of Figure 6;

l ure 9 is a partial rear elevation and partial section, on an enlarged scale, showng my improved lifting mechanism, the

section being taken substanti-allyon the line 9-9 of Figure l; and

Figures 10 and 11 are fragmentary perspective views of the trip mechanism, the

two views showing the parts in different positions,

Referring to the drawings in detail, my

improved apparatus comprises a main frame l, preferably rectangular in form, and supported on a pair of front feet or legs 2, and

a pair of rear legs 3, the latter having at their ends wheels t, on which the apparatus may be moved about after the manner of a wheelbarrow.

-ldounted upon the frame 1 is a pair of spaced rails 5 having roundedends, on which rails the lower part of the flask or drag, indicated at 6, is supported. This drag is provided with transversely extending cleats 6" on its bottom, which serve as guides, and which engage the sides of the rails 5 to properly position the drag (see Figure 4). The cope is indicated at 7, and the pattern plate at 8, these parts being of the usual or any desired construction, the pattern plate 8 preferably having the middle portion at the ends projecting somewhat beyond the ends of the cope and drag, as indicated at S.

A guide post 9 secured to each end of the drag and registering holesare provided in the projecting portions 8" of the plate 8 and in brackets 7 secured to :the ends of the cope 7, such holes being adapted to fit over the guide posts 9. when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, to hold them in proper alineinent. An additional pair of brackets .10 is secured to and projects beyond the face of each end of the cope, as shown in the first four figures, and these brackets are engaged by the lifting elements hereinafter described.

F or convenience, I provide a pair of horizontally projecting brackets 11, secured to the legs 2 and 8 at one side of the machine, and at the rear, I provide an elevated shelf 12, supported on bracket meml'iers 13, all for the purpose of furnishing convenient means for supporting the parts of the flask or the patterns.

The lifting elements which I prefer to employ comprise two sets of vertical rods, each set consisting of four rods, two at each side of the apparatus. The upper ends of one set of rods are relatively high, and are for the purpose of engaging the brackets 10 secured to the cope, while the upper ends of the other set of rods are relatively low and are arranged to engage the projecting portions 8 of the pattern plate. The cope engaging rods at each side are designated lat and 15, while the plate engaging rods at each side are indicated at 16 and 17. It will be noted that the rods 15, at each side of the apparatus, are bent or bowed out wardly, indicated at This is for the purpose of permitting the plate to be withdrawn between and through the bowed portions, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The pair of rods 14: and 16, at each side of the machine, are mounted in one leg 18 of a U-shaped casting, while the rods 15 and 1.7 are mounted in the other leg 19 of this casting, the ends of both sets of rods projecting downwardly through a horizontal shelf or bracket 23, into the main body or bottom part 20 of the casting. It will be understood that both the legs and body of this casting are made hollow to constitute housings, the legs being provided with removable covers such as indicated at 18, in Figs. 5 and 9 and the body being provided with a cover plate 20. In Figure 5, the cover plate of the leg 19 is shown as removed. The upper ends of the legs 18 and 19 are made wedge-shaped, as indicated at 18 for the purpose of prevent ing sand and the like from lodging thereon.

In order to cause the rods 1-4:, 15, etc. to work smoothly through the walls of the housing 18 or 19, without becoming cloged by sand or the like, I adopt the cons iction best shown in Figure 5. By reference to this figure, it will be seen that each rod works through a guide sleeve 21., which projects considerably above the upper ends of the legs 18 and 19 of the casting, and a hood. or cap 22 is secured to the rod above the guide sleeve 21, and is of such size as to snugly telescope over it. This guard or cap, in combination with the guide sleeve, effectually prevents sand or grit from interfering with the smooth sliding movement of the rod.

Inside the legs 18 and 19, each rod 1a and 15 carries near its lower end a transverse pin 25, and is surrounded by ahelical spring 2 1, which is interposed between this pin and the shelf or bracket 23. Similarly, each rod 16 and 17, within the legs 18 and 19, carries a transversely extending pin 28, and is surrounded by a spring 27. interposed between such pin and the shelf or bracket 23. Thus, each rod is resiliently supported, so that it may freely yield relative to the casting in which it is mounted.

In order to limit the upward movement of the rods relative to the casting, and also to prevent their rotation, I have adopted the following construction. On the rear wall of the legs 18 and 19, I provide vertically extending ribs 26 and 29, such ribs having at their upper ends stop shoulders 26 and 2e. Secured to the inside of the front wall or cover plate, as shown in connection with the plate 18 in Figure 9, are two similar ribs 30, arranged to register with the ribs 26 and 29. The ribs 30 lie close to the shoulders 26" and 29 but are spaced from he ribs 26 and 29 a distance sufficient to receive the pins 25 and 28 between them,as clearly shown in Figure 9. Thus, the pin can freely slide in the slot formed between the two ribs, but is confined thereby so as to hold the rod against rotation and also so as to limit the upward movement of the rod. Thus, the rods, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, are at the upper limit of their movement relative to the frame or casting in which they are mounted.

The two castings (each comprising the parts 18, 19, 20), one each side of the machine, are rigidly connected together by means of tie rods 81, four of such rods being shown. These rods are preferably provided at their ends with right and left hand threads so that they may be readily screwed into corresponding sockets in the two castings. Thus, the two castings, held together between four tie rods, constitute a rigid frame, all parts of which mustmove together.

This frame is arranged. to vertically re ciprocate relative to the main supporting frame 1, and to guide it in its movement, I provide a pair of hanger bars 32, secured at their upper ends to the main frame 1 by bolts 33 (see Figure 6) and depending from such main frame. Secured to these hanger bars by means of bolts 35, but spaced therefrom by suitable blocks, are a pair of tubular guide rails 3 1. These rails are engaged by slides 36, secured to the rear faces Figures and S.

of the two castings, two such slides being provided for each casting, as shown in Figure 6. i i

The frame comprising the two castings and the tie rods is reciprocated vertically on the guide rails 34, by means of a pair of links 37, arranged one on each side and connected at their lower ends: to the lower end of the castings, as by means of pivot pins The upper ends of these links 37 are piy'otally connectedto one end of a pair of levers 39, secured to a rock shaft 40, journaled in the frame 1, the other end of the levers 39 being connected to one end of a spring 41, the other end of which securely anchored to the leg 3 at 42. This spring serves as a counterbalance for the weight of the castings and associated parts. Secured to the shaft 40 is an operating lever or handle is, this handle being preferably arranged at the right hand side of the machine, as viewed from the front.

Extending between and journaled in the body portions 20 of the two castings are a pair of shafts L and a7. Enclosed within each portion 20, inside the cover plate thereof, and supported loosely upon the shafts and 47, are two cross arms IL-l and These cross arms are disposed in spaced pa 'allel relation in a substantial horizontal position, and are held in this position, that is .0 say, prevented from rotating,by a pair of lugs 46, projecting between them from the rear wall of the body 20 of the casting. Each of the cross arms 4H and 48 has a. central hub, on the outer face of which is formed a helical cam surface ell), as indicated in Figures 8 and 9. Cooperating with this helical cam surface a similar cam surface 50, formed on a cam member 51 or 56, see There is one member 51 and one member 56 at each side of the apparatus, the cam member .5l being secured to one end of the shaft 1 :7, at one side of the machine, and being secured to the other end of the shaft l5 at the other side of the machine. This will be clear from an inspection of Figure 9. The cam member 56 is nothing but a disk, while the cam member 51 is provided with a crank arm 52, as

clearly shown in the drawings. The shape of the cam member 51 is perhaps best shown.

in Figure 10. To the arm 52 of each cam meniber 51 secured a link 53, to which is attached one end of a spring 54, the other end of which is anchored at 55, near the pper end of the casting, (see Figures 3, 5 and 9).

From the above description, it is obvious that-the springs 5t constantly tend to turn the shafts 4-5 and 1 :7 in such a manner as to bring the cam surfaces 49 and into cooperation. The shape of these cam surfaces is such that the pull of the springs, as described, tends to *ause the cam sur-- casting :20. \Vhen the force of the springs 54;

is relieved in any way, as, for example, in the manner hereinafter described, the arms 4.4 and t8 are moved away from the rear wall of the casting 20, by means of springs 57, interposed between the arms and such rear wall (see Figme 8).

It will be noted from an inspection of Figures 5, 8 and 9 that the ends of the cross arm H, overlie the lower ends of the lifting rods la and 15, while the ends of cross arm ll) overlie the lower ends of lifting rods 16 and 17. The ends of these rods within the housing 20 lie in concave seats 58 (see Figure Therefore, when the cross arms are moved toward the rear wall of the housing, they operate to grip or clamp the rods between then'iselves and the seats 58. In other words, the springs 54- normally tend to work the cams in such a manner as to force the cross arms *M- and 48 into firm .engagement with the rods so as to clamp or lock them securely to the casting. .Vhen thus clamped or locked, the rods of course must move with thecasting as it travels up and down.

in accordance with my invention, however, means are provided. for at times relieving the cams from the action of the springs ill and thus releasing the rods, leaving them free to move. independently of the casting "in which they are mounted. This is accomplished by means of the trip mechanism illustrated in various tiguresof the drawing, but best shown, perhaps, in Figures 10 and 11.

Two such n'iechanismsare employed, and although they'are substantially alike, they will be described separately for the sake of clearness.

Referring to Figure 10, the trip mechanism there illustrated comprises a crank 59, secured to the shaft l5, adjacent one of the hanger bars 32. This crank carries an antifriction roller (30 and-its extreme end is bent over in a direction parallel with the shaft 45, as indicated at (31. A trip plate 62 projects at right angles from a bracket (53, adjustably secured to the bar 32', by means of a screw and slot connection 64. Also carried by this bracket 63 is an inclined guide plate (55, pivotally mounted at its rear edge, as indicated at 66, and being yieldingly held in the position shown, by a small compression spring 67, interposed between it and the bracket 63. Below the plate 65 is a fixed guide plate 69, having two angularly disposed portions and 71,

arranged to be engaged by the roller (50, the portion 70 being mclmed and the portion 71 being vertical. Below this plate is another bracket carrying a pair of spaced lugs 72, arranged to engage the heel of the crank lever 59. and properly position or center it.

It will now be understood that the action of the spring tends to urge the crank 59 toward the right, as viewed in Figure 10, with the roller 60 hearing firmly against the guide plate 69. As the frame carrying the shaft 1-5 and crank 59 move upwardly, the roller 60 travels along the inclined portion 70 of the guide plate 69, until the end (31 of the crank engages the front edge 68 of the plate (55, which edge .is in the same plane as the face of the plate 62. As the upward movement of the crank 59 continues, the portion 61 slides along the edge 68 and thence upwardly along the face of the plate 62. Dining all of this moven'ient, it will be understood that the crank 59 and shaft have been displaced but very slightly angularly, not suiiiciently to have any cti'e a upon the clamping of the rods by the cross arms. It will also be understood that during the travel described, the crank held the shaft 45 in such position that me cross arms were not bearing upon or clamping the lifting rods. In other words, these rods were free to move relative to the meetings, being supported only by the rlatively lightsprings 24 and 27.

Continued i'ipward movement of the castings carrying the shaft 4:5, however, results in the portion (ll of the crank finally reaehing a position where it clears and snaps over the top edge of the plate ($2. This is illustrated in Figure ll. The crank 59, under the influence. of the spring 54:, now swings around to the right through a considerable angle, causing the cams 5i and 5G to force the arms l--'linto firm engagement with the lower ends of the lifting rods it and 15, thus clamping or locking them rigidly to the castings. l herr-ifore, during the further n'iovemcut of the castings, these rods must travel with them.

The second trip mechanism, shown at th right of Figure 9, is identical with thaf just described, except that the crank is mounted upon the shaft 47, instead of th shaft 4:7, and that it controls the action oi the cross arms and lifting rods 16 and 17', instead of those above mentioned. Moreover, the face of the trip plate (52 is e. tended so as to be considerably longer than the plate (32. Similar parts of the two mechanisms are indicated by the same reference numerals, except that in the second mechanism, these numerals have been primed.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that as the frame comprising the castings and tie rods 31 travels upwardly, the tripping of the crank 59' will occur at a time subsequent to the tripping of the crank 59,

and the locking of the rods 16 and 17 will not take place until an appreciable interval after the locking of the rods 1% and 15. In View of the slotted connections, as shown at (3 t for supporting the brackets 63 carrying the plate 62, the exact pointof release or, in other words, the tripping point, can be ac'ljusted, as desired.

The operation of the device as a whole will now be apparent. The normalv position of the parts is as indicated in Figure l, with the cope and pattern plate assembled on the drag and with the vertically movable frame in its lowest position. Vihen it is desired to separate the cope and plate from the drag, the operator grasps the lever at?) and moves it toward the left, as viewed in Figure 1. This has the effect of raising the frame comprising the castings 20 and associated parts. The initial movement of this frame serves to bring the upper ends of the lifting rods l t and 15 at each side of the machine into engagement with the brackets 10. carried by the cope. It may be that one or more of these rods will engage these bracket-s slightly before the othc 9. due to the fact that the brackets are not. in the same plane. When this occurs, however the rocs which engage first will be dcpri ed, the springs or 27 yielding accordingly. its the upward movement of the frai continues, all of the rods engage the hr; t5; and all are slightly depressed, some perhaps more than others. Then, after the frame has traveled a predetern'iined distance, as determined. by the setting of the trip plate (32', the crank arm snaps over such plate and all of the lifting roos 'l-i and 15 are instantly locked to the frame. During the rest of the movement of the frame, therefore, the lifting rods continue to maintain the exact relation to each other and to the cope that they occupied at the moment of locking, and it will be understood that at such moment or locking, they were all in firm engagement with the cope brackets. In other words it will be seen that the upper ends of the four lifting rods were permittted to yield until they adapted themselves to and perfectly conformed with the contour of the lower surface of the brackets 10, and that they were looked in this condition of conformity. Therefore, whatever was the position occupied by the lower surfaces of the brackets 10, relative to a horizontal. plane, when. the cope was resting on the pattern plate, this position is strictly maintained during the vertical movement or lifting of the cope. That is to say, any tendency to displace the cope singularly is eliminated and the cope is lifted absolutely parallel to itself.

The same is true of the pattern plate. No matter how much this plate may be warped, the ends of the lifting rods 16 and 17, durill) ing the first part of the vertical movement of the frame, yield so as to automatically adjust themselves to the contour of the lower surface of the plate, and after this adjustment: has taken place, they are automatically locked so as to maintain the original relation of the parts. 7

It will be understood, however, that the locking of the two sets of rods and the lifting of the cope and pattern plate take place successively. liigure 2 illustrates the position of the parts after the cope has been lifted, and while the pattern plate is still resting on the drag, while Figures 5 and Al illustrate the final position in which both cope and pattern plate have been lifted. in this last position, it will be observed that the links 37 have swung over so far that they will remain in that position, thus maintaining the parts elevated.

The pattern plate is now withdrawn edgewise, the bowed portions l5- of the rods 15 permitting such withdrawal.

After the plate has been thus removed, the lever 43 is swung over to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, toward the position shown in Figure 1, thus lowering the movable frame that carries the lifting rods, and with it the cope, until the cope rests on top of the drag. The frame continues its downward move I ment, thus moving thelifting rods out of enis returned by the spring 67 to its normal position.

The travel of the roller 60 down the inclined surface 7 0 of the plate 69 also results in turning the shaft 45, and with it the cam members 51 to the left, as viewed in Figure 10, thus placing the spring ounder tension and so moving the cam surfaces 50 relative to the cam surfaces 49, as to permit the springs 57 to shift the clamping bar 58 (see Figure 8) away from the lifting rods and thus release them. lVhen these rods are released, they are restored by the springs 24 and 27 to the normal position shown in Figure 5, in which position the upper ends of each set of rods lie substantially in a horizontal plane.

It will be understood that the crank 59, and its associated mechanism, shown at the right hand side of Figure 9, is restored to normal position in the same manner as above described in connection with crank 59, the restoring mechanism, in the case of crank 59, however, coming into operation slightly later, or after the frame has descended somewhat further than in the case of the crank 53), this being due to the fact that the guide plates are set somewhat lower, as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 9.

It is immaterial that the restor' 1g mechanism at the two sides of the machine comes into operation successively as the frame is lowered. but this operation results from the important fact, heretofore fully explained, that the parts are so arrz-rnged'hs to cause the locking mechanism to come into action successively as the frame travels upward during the lirst part of the cycle.

It will be understood that after the parts have all been restored to normal position by moving the lever 43 to its rightliand limit, as above described, the flask is removed from the machine to the casting floor, Where the pouring of the metal takes place. After the lasting is completed, and the finished articles removed, the flask is re-assembled on the machine, and is ready for anotheroperation.

lVh'at I claim is 1 l. Lifting mechanism comprising a plurality of vertical rods, a frame in which said rods are yieldingly mounted, means for raising said frame, means permitting said rods to yield during the initial movement of said frame, and means for automatically locking said rods to the frame after the latter has traveled a predetermined distance.

Lifting mechanism comprising two sets of vertical rods, a frame in which said rods are mounted. means for raising said frame, means permitting all of said rods to yield during the initial movement of said frame, means for automatically locking one set of rods to the frame after the latter has traveled a predetermined distance, and means for automatically locking the other set of rods to the frame after it has traveled a further distance.

3. Lifting mechanism comprisingtwo sets of vertical rods, a frame in which said rods are mounted with the ends of one set lower than the ends of the other set, means for raising said frame, means permitting the rods of the higher set to yield during the initial movement of said frame and for causing them to be automatically locked thereto after the frame has traveled a predetermined distance, and means permitting the rods of the lower set to yield durin the above mentioned travel of the frame and for causing them to be automatically locked to the frame after it has traveled a n'edetermined further distance.

4:. Lifting mechanism comprising two sets of vertical rods, a frame in which said rods are yieldably mounted, means for raising said frame, and automatic means brought into operation as said frame rises, for successively locking said sets of rods to the frame at different predetermined points in the upward travel thereof.

5. Lifting mechanism comprising a pinrality 01" vertical rods, a trame in which said rods are \'iel il.in;i'ly mounted. means for raisins; said frame, means tor locking; the rods to the traine, a z-apring normally tending to ur"esaid locking means toward rodlocking; {)Ufilliflll. means [or restraining: the action of the s n-inc; during the initial movement oil said titanic. and automatic means for releasing said restraining); means atter the 'l'rai'nc has traveled a nredetcrininod dis tance. and pcri'nittinn' said spring to aai'uatc said locking means.

6. Lifting: mechanism comprising a plurality of Vertical rods. :1 Frame in which said rods are yicldinejly mounted. means l'or raising said frame. means opkratirc during the initial movement of said frame: for adjusting the upper ends of said rods to a certain definite relation. and auti'nnatic means for thereupon locking said rods and maintaining: their ends in exactly the same relation during all turthcr movement of said frame.

7. The combination with an ohiert to be lifted. of littingl' mechanism comprising a plurality of yertically movable elements adapted to engage said object, means tor causing said elements to assume a relation conforming with the lower surface of the object with which they are in engagement before the lifting begins, and means -tor maintaining" said elements in such relation during the lifting operation.

8. The combination with an object to he lifted. of lifting mechanism for engaging and lifting the'same, said mechanism ineluding means whereby said object is maintained exactly parallel to its original. position during the lifting operation, regardless ol irregularities of its lower surface.

9. The combination with a flask connin'ising the usual drag and cope. o'l l'ncci'ianisln tor lifting; the cope. said mechanism including means for maintaining ti 2 cope strictly parallel to its original position dur ng the lifting;' operation. regardless 0t whether or not its bottom lies in a true horizontal plane.

it). The combination with a flash comprising! the usual drag and cope ot' merhanism for lifting the cope said mechanism includincans "tor insuring that the cope is awn no angular movement whatrwcr as it is rah-zed from the drag.

ll. The combination with a flask comprising; the usual drag, cope. and pattern plate, 0t mechanism for successively lifting the cope and plate from the drag, said mechanism including means for maintaining the cope and plate strictly in their original angular relation to each other during the lifting operation.

12. The combination with a flask comprising the usual drag, cope, and pattern plate, oi mechanism for successively lifting the cope and plate from the drag. said mechanism including means for insuring that neither the cope nor plate is giren the slight est angular movement as they are raised trom the drag.

In testimony whereof I allix my signa ture.

EUGENE M. COLE: 

